Feed roll spikes with plus-shaped cutting edges

Abstract

An improvement in a debarking machine of the type including an annular frame, a plurality of debarking tools mounted in annularly spaced relation within the annular frame for rotation together about the axis of the annular frame and for movement toward and away from each other, infeed and outfeed mechanisms for feeding logs through the annular frame so that the tools will engage the exterior periphery of the successive logs and strip the bark therefrom during their movement through the annular frame. The infeed and outfeed mechanisms each include three driven spiked rolls arranged so that their spiked peripheries normally engage the exterior periphery of the log in centered relation and move the same axially through the annular frame for debarking by the tools. Each of the spiked rolls includes a cylinder and a multiplicity of spikes extending radially outward therefrom. The improvement comprises constructing each of the spikes in at least one of the rolls and preferably all so as to provide a radially outward cutting edge disposed generally within a plane parallel with the plane of the cylinder. Each cutting edge is configured to define at least one line extending transverse to the direction of movement thereof on the roll and a second line extending transverse to the first line. Each spike divergingly tapers from the lines in a direction toward the exterior of said cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a debarking machine of the type including an annular frame, a plurality of debarking tools, means mounting said tools in annularly spaced relation within said annular frame for rotation together about the axis of said annular frame and for movement toward and away from each other, infeed and outfeed mechanisms for feeding logs through said annular frame so that said tools will engage the exterior periphery of the successive logs and strip the bark therefrom during their movement through the annular frame, said infeed mechanism including three driven infeed spiked rolls arranged so that their spiked peripheries normally engage the exterior periphery of the log in centered relation and move the same axially through said annular frame for debarking by said tools, each of said spiked rolls including a cylinder and a multiplicity of spikes extending radially outwardly therefrom, the improvement which comprises: each of said spikes in at least one of said rolls being constructed so as to provide a radially outward cutting edge disposed generally within a plane parallel with the plane of said cylinder, said cutting edge being configured to define at least one line extending transverse to the direction of movement thereof on said roll and a second line extending transverse to said first line, said spike divergingly tapering from said lines in a direction toward the exterior of said cylinder.   
     
     
       2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second lines are in the form of a plus sign. 
     
     
       3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said spikes are arranged on the exterior periphery of said cylinder in annularly spaced transversely extending rows, the spikes of each row being transversely staggered with respect to the spikes of the rows adjacent thereto. 
     
     
       4. The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein each spike constitutes one of a cluster of spikes formed as an integral assembly. 
     
     
       5. The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein each cluster of spikes includes five spikes arranged so that two pairs of spikes are disposed respectively in two adjacent rows of spikes and the fifth spike is disposed in a third row adjacent to one of the two adjacent rows. 
     
     
       6. The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein each fifth spike is centered transversely with respect to each pair of said two pairs of spikes. 
     
     
       7. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein a first pair of spikes of said two pairs of spikes which is adjacent said fifth spike is spaced transversely apart a distance greater than the transverse spacing between the second pair of spikes. 
     
     
       8. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein each cluster of spikes is fixed to the periphery of the associated cylinder by fastener means. 
     
     
       9. The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein said fastener means includes a single centrally located bolt, each cluster having a portion abuttingly engaging an adjacent cluster so as to positively prevent rotational movement thereof about the single bolt as an axis. 
     
     
       10. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said clusters of spikes are mounted on the periphery of the associated cylinder in transversely aligned and annularly staggered relation with respect to each other so that each row of spikes includes a fifth spike in one cluster, a first pair of spikes in a second cluster and a second pair of spikes in a third cluster. 
     
     
       11. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein each spike constitutes one of a cluster of spikes formed as an integral assembly. 
     
     
       12. The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein each cluster of spikes includes five spikes arranged so that two pairs of spikes are disposed respectively in two adjacent rows of spikes and the fifth spike is disposed in a third row adjacent to one of the two adjacent rows. 
     
     
       13. The improvement as defined in claim 12 wherein each fifth spike is centered transversely with respect to each pair of said two pairs of spikes. 
     
     
       14. The improvement as defined in claim 13 wherein a first pair of spikes of said two pairs of spikes which is adjacent said fifth spike is spaced transversely apart a distance greater than the transverse spacing between the second pair of spikes. 
     
     
       15. The improvement as defined in claim 14 wherein said clusters of spikes are mounted on the periphery of the associated cylinder in transversely aligned and annularly staggered relation with respect to each other so that each row of spikes includes a fifth spike in one cluster, a first pair of spikes in a second cluster and a second pair of spikes in a third cluster. 
     
     
       16. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein each cluster of spikes is fixed to the periphery of the associated cylinder by fastener means. 
     
     
       17. The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said fastener means includes a single centrally located bolt, each cluster having a portion abuttingly engaging an adjacent cluster so as to positively prevent rotational movement thereof about the single bolt as an axis. 
     
     
       18. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said spikes are arranged on the exterior periphery of said cylinder in annularly spaced transversely extending rows, the spikes of each row being transversely staggered with respect to the spikes of the rows adjacent thereto.